BEACON FALLS — The town commended members of Beacon Hose Company No. 1 Sept. 8 for their efforts to help save a young boy’s life over Labor Day weekend.
On Aug. 29, 2-year-old Christian Carloto, who was in town visiting with his family from Georgia, unknowingly wandered from his parents and fell into the swimming pool at a home on Skokorat Road
Jason Mathis, the boy’s father, immediately jumped into the pool, pulled his son out and began performing CPR.
“Within three minutes Beacon Hose Company’s EMTs were on the scene and continued with CPR,” First Selectman Christopher Bielik said during a small ceremony at the firehouse to honor the first responders. “As a result of the quick thinking from the dad and a quick response from Beacon Hose Company No. 1’s EMTs the little boy is back in Georgia with his family and appears to have no lasting effects from this near fatal experience.”
Bielik, along with Beacon Hose members, gathered to recognize the life-savings efforts members of the company put in that afternoon.
Assistant EMS Director Kenneth George, Assistant Chief Brian DeGeorge and Beacon Hose Company firefighters and emergency medical technicians Gretchen Carlson, Kevin O’Connell, Kurt Novak, Jeremy Rodorigo, Andrew Leeper and Dan Weinberg were recognized that evening.
Bielik thanked all members of Beacon Hose for the work they do in keeping the town safe.
“You guys know better than anyone in town every time that phone rings and you jump in the truck and head on out that that could be a life-changing, life-saving opportunity. Sometimes you get down there and it’s a false alarm, it’s a puff of steam instead of smoke, and everybody breathes a sigh of relief. Sometimes it is a real incident, and this one that happened on the 29th of August drills home to everybody in this room why you do what you do, and why we in Beacon Falls are lucky to have every one of you men and women that are willing to volunteer your time and effort to keep this community safe,” Bielik said.
While presenting the official proclamation in recognition of outstanding service to the members who responded to the call, Bielik praised their actions.
“Our EMTs have set an example for others, whose life-saving deed will forever be remembered by everyone involved,” Bielik said.
Beacon Falls resident Hope Holden, Christian’s aunt who was hosting the family, said the boy is back to being his usual self and the family is grateful for the actions of the first responders.
“He is back to his normal, energetic self,” Holden said in an email. “We are truly amazed that we still have him with us. We are thankful that my brother, Christian’s father, was able to react properly until help arrived. God has a great plan for this little boy and we are excited to see him grow.”